Over 22 new projects of Rs 16000 cr in 2012: Shipping min

Shipping Minister G K Vasan today said his Ministry proposed to undertake over 22 new projects worth over Rs 16,000 crore this year, of which about five to six would be ready this March.

"Around Rs 16,000 crore we have planned for around 22 projects this year. By end March, around five to six projects will positively come out. Already projects for Rs 6,700 crore in Mumbai has come out positively," he said at a press conference here.

Vasan said his Ministry was also in the process of discussing Land Use Policy and Coastal Shipping, which would soon be placed before the cabinet. "It has gone for inter-ministerial consultation. As soon as it is over, land use policy will be cleared," he said. The minister replied in the negative when asked about alleged scandals at Kandla port, saying "There is no scandal in the port. It is an old case of 2004 and is in court...CBI has also cleared it. There is no scope of scandal in Kandla."

He hoped road connectivity to Ennore port would be completed by June 2013 and recalled that Roadways minister C P Joshi had visited Chennai port recently and held talks with representatives with Chennai Port Trust National Highways Authority of India and Tamil Nadu government to speed up work. "We are working together to open the road by June next year."

CPT Chairman Atulya Misra said the port has lost over 18 million tonnes cargo worth Rs 226 crore after the Madras High Court ruling not to handle coal and iron ore.CPT is looking at alternatives of clean cargo to compensate losses incurred. Chennai port has recorded 24-25% growth this year in terms of handling containers, he said.